The Ginger Cat Mystery by Robin Forsythe

Author:Robin Forsythe [Forsythe, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dean Street Press
Published: 2016-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

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I had another strange experience this morning which I haven’t told you about yet, Heather,” said Vereker to the inspector as they sat at lunch.

“I daresay,” said Heather. “There’ll be all sorts of little things you’re keeping hidden up your sleeve, but to show you I bear no malice I’m going to help you to the liver wing of this lovely bird. When I’ve finished carving, I’ll sit down quietly and listen to your yarn, but not one moment before. I like to make a neat job of carving a capon, so I’ll trouble you not to bother me. By the way, they haven’t brought in any beer. Now go and get it yourself and save Mrs. Borham the trouble of coming in and interrupting us when we get busy with our discussion.”

Vereker disappeared and when he returned he found that Heather had completed his task and was sitting waiting for him.

“Now we’re O.K.,” said the inspector. “Step on the gas and let her rip. What was your strange experience?”

“After I left the bungalow this morning,” said Vereker, “I cut across the paddock and was making my way through the wood when I heard voices. Shortly afterwards two figures came into sight in the distance. They were Carstairs and Miss Cornell. They were talking very earnestly to one another and didn’t spot me. I was anxious not to meet them at the moment because I wanted to get to Marston Manor and catch you before you left, so I just stepped off the path and hid behind a thick clump of hazels while they passed. I naturally kept my ears open to hear what they were saying.”

“Dear, dear, Mr. Vereker! This is too bad. Just a common eavesdropper and I thought you were a perfect gentleman. This detection business is demoralizing you, there’s no doubt about it. Doesn’t matter about me, I never was what you call a gent, but you! What were they saying? I’m eager to hear.”

“I only heard a fragment of the conversation and it wasn’t at all conclusive, but as far as I could gather Carstairs was asking the lady to marry him.”

“Stout fellow! I thought there was something sticky between them and it bears out Miss Catchpole’s story about him being the faithful but disappointed lover. They were together this morning in the garden some time before you saw them in the wood. They were evidently making their way to the bungalow. I had my eye on Romeo and he’s badly smitten. He was talking like a politician who’d got warmed up to telling his constituents what he was going to do for his native land and he looked like a hungry cat watching a bowl of goldfish. What did the young lady say to the marriage proposal?”

“Turned it down definitely and finally but his exact words were, ‘I’ll stand by you and take all the blame if you’ll consent to marry me. Can’t you see it’s the only effective way out of

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